The landscape of Liver diseases in Asia-Pacific

Biotechnology companies consider locations in the Asia-Pacific region, such as South Korea and China to access vast treatment-naïve patient populations and accelerate their clinical trials at lower costs. Asia Pacific hosts some of the most active key opinion leaders and investigators in the field of hepatology with strong experience working with biotechnology companies.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct malignancies are highly prevalent in Asia, especially in South Korea where the prevalence rate is about 5 times higher than in Western countries.

Hepatitis infections as well as fatty liver diseases such as NASH, which are endemic in this part of the world, are known to markedly increase the risk of developing HCC and explain the high rates observed in Asia.

About half of clinical trials initiated by biotechnology companies in HCC involved a country from Asia-Pacific.

NAFLD and NASH

Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) are one of the most common liver disorder in developed countries and are particularly prevalent in Asian countries, especially in South Korea and China. About a third of all industry-sponsored clinical studies involve sites across the Asia-Pacific region.

Hepatitis

It is estimated that at least 2 billion people have been infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). The Asia Pacific region represents 75% of chronic HBV patients globally.

Countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam account for 50% of the worlds chronic HBV population. It is estimated that one-third of liver cirrhosis cases and more than half of the Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases in the Asia region are attributable to HBV infections.

Liver disease CRO services

Novotech has robust relationships with investigators allowing to quickly identify the best sites for liver disease clinical studies. Over the last 25 years, Novotech has provided high-quality Liver disease CRO services to numerous biotechnology companies using an approach adapted to the biotech model.

 

Novotech experience in Liver diseases trials

Novotech has conducted over 70 trials in liver diseases including the following indications:

  • Hepatitis B (HBV)
  • Hepatitis C (HCV)
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct malignancies
  • Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
  • Liver Transplant